Headphones question......

[Roland58]

Just recieved my standard F75 and have only had time to make sure it works. My question is, "Can any headphones with a 1/4" stereo jack be used with the F75 (or any other locator)?" The reason I'm asking is that the headphones I bought with the F75 seem like very poor quality. I have seen MUCH better headphones for a LOT less money, they just aren't designated for use with a locator. I'm thinking any decent headphones (comfortable and lightweight) should work just fine.

In case you are interested, I ordered two pair of Eagle headphones from Kellyco for the two locators I bought. One set of headphones did not work, but, in Kellyco's defense, a quick phone call to them resulted in a new pair being shipped immediately. Great service!

 

[shooter]

Rol, didn't get the free package that came wth the F75? You could pick option 1 or 2 and op. 1 came with headphones. Here's the ad 3 coils F75 and assor. package. I'd check on it. Use stereo headphones.

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/fisher/fisher-f75-3coil-buy.htm

 

[Roland58]

Yep, Shooter, that is what I got.....Option #1, however, the man I talked to told me the Eagle headphones were superior in comfort and better quality than the Audio II phones that were in the special package. He offered to substitute the Eagles for the same price (free with the package). Have been doing some looking and what I can find is that all of the headphones utilize either 100 or 150 ohm impedence with response frequencies from 200 hz to 3200 hz.......only what your locator puts out. Then, in the very next line it says 150 hz to 3200 Khz and again, only what your locator puts out!! Ummm, can we get the stories straight here? I gave away a very nice set of Kenwood studio headphones, thinking I would never need them.....grrrrrr. They were terrific headphones.

Got my first target tonigh!!!!! Almost dark, I was butt draggin tired, but, just had to give her a shot in my back yard. Default setup, did the GB, moved about 6 feet and picked up a fairly solid hit, looked like a copper penny. What the heck, let's dig it, so I did. Found a really nice short length of 12 ga. copper wire..........Hey, that's pretty close!! My very first target, yeeehaw.

If nobody can give me any particulars, I will take the machine to some stereo supply tomorrow and try some out. I think they should work as good or, probably a lot better than the "made for" group

 

[Roland58]

Okay, I answered my own question. For those that might be curious, most any headphones will work with locators. Even if they do not have the 1/4" phone plug, adapters are readily available. Now for the good news.......I went to 'Whalemart' today and picked up a pair of Koss stereo headphones for $4.88. They have the smaller 3.5 mm (or whatever size it is) plug, but, an adapter I already had worked just fine. These headphones are lighter, more comfortable and perform infinitely better than the ones that came with my F75. A drawback would be that they do not have a heavy coiled cord, but, with proper care, they should last a while. Not to mention I can buy 8 or 10 sets of these for what the others list for. Plus, they came with extra ear pads (of course, I have never worn out the ear pads of headphones before).

 

[shooter]

I have 2 pair, 1 I got in the 80's and I just love them, they have 2 settings, normal, other one use a small N-battery to amplify the faint audio signals on deep stuff,
used themwith every detector I used still use them on my 1265X and 1270. Got the audio 200 when I bought my Fisher 1270 from KellyCo last year, they work good and they are loud at max. vol. but the tone isn't rounded and mello, its kind of raspy and tinny sound. They still make the other ones I have called "Depth Master Superphones"

 

[jmaryt]

i would bet that kellyco buys those headphones by the "gross"
from china..144 to a case!..(lol!)

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[Roland58]

i would bet that kellyco buys those headphones by the "gross"
from china..144 to a case!..(lol!)

(h.h!)
j.t.

I'm sure you are correct. They didn't even want me to send the defective set back........that should indicate that the postage is approaching or exceeding the cost of the headphones.

The Depth Master phones are supposed to be good.....if they pass the hype test, I haven't tried them. One thing nice, working on the Eagle headphones is painfully easy.......one bad solder joint
causing a short and another high R short in the other earpiece taken care of and they work like a champ. Still don't sound near as good as the $5 buck Koss and not as light or comfortablell I'm not worried about the lightweight
cord, it could easily be replaced with the cord from the Eagle set and, then, I wouldn't have to use the adapter!! yay.

 

[DirtfishTom]

I have a comment on this. I also bought that pair from WM for 4.88 and I only get sound from one ear with them. I wasnt sure if its from the adapter (3.5mm to 1/4") or if its the headphones. So took them back and the second pair does the same thing, so its gotta be the adapter jack, or this pair is not suitable for an F5. Any opiniuns?

 

[Roland58]

Dirtfish, Make sure you have a 'stereo' adapter........it will have three rings or contact areas, known as the Tip, Ring and Sleeve. The 'mono' plugs only have two....Tip and Sleeve. Any good stereo shop should have the adapters, i.e. Best Buy, even Radio Crap, err, Shack..
I'm not familiar with the workings of the F5, but, I would think the plug would be the same as the F75. My adapter works great and the five buck Koss headphones sound and feel great.....none of that 'tinny' sound as heard from the others!!

 

[jmaryt]

roland!..if you want a 'good" set of lightweight phones try the koss website,and look for the
19.99 airweights!..terrific range,and WELL made too! .. they carry a lifetime warranty
that is good as gold direct from koss!..check 'em out!..forget the kellyco stuff,as you are
probably aware they "throw" this stuff in to get ya to "bite" for the detector..capitalism
at it's finest!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[Roland58]

roland!..if you want a 'good" set of lightweight phones try the koss website,and look for the
19.99 airweights!..terrific range,and WELL made too! .. they carry a lifetime warranty
that is good as gold direct from koss!..check 'em out!..forget the kellyco stuff,as you are
probably aware they "throw" this stuff in to get ya to "bite" for the detector..capitalism
at it's finest!

(h.h!)
j.t.

Thanks, JT! I went to the Koss website and could not find anything that mentioned "airweight." I did find a few sets that had an MSRP of $19.99...........the Koss KPH15, Koss Everywear SoloStereophone, Koss UR18 and the Koss KTXPro1. The Everywear model even comes with adapter plugs. I must say, the little five buck phones are working great and, they, too, have a lifetime warranty. (the lifetime warranty requires the phones be sent back with a check for $6, that would rule out using it for the $5 models!)

I knew the "freebies" would not be of the best quality, but, they SHOULD have been as good or better than the $5 Koss!

 

[zeekeys]

Hi Roland I use the KTXPro1 and the cord broke off the plug. I called Koss and they said just give us one day notice and come and pick up a new pair. $19.95 with a life time warranty not a bad deal. I am on my 4th pair in many years of using these guys. They are light and have a volume control and you even get a 1/4" plug with them. But the cord is kind of thin. The cords have gotten thinner and thinner over the years. They are the same as the titanium Pro 35?? that radio shack sells for $19.95. I don't work for Koss but I do live a few miles from the factory.
For a really good pair of phones I use the Pro gold phones from Sun Ray. I can work right next to the water/highway with waves/cars making so much noise I can't hear the detector without them. Very good noise reduction and sound quality with these phones. Thanks for reading and Happy Trails.....Z

 

[Roland58]

I finally had an opportunity to do some 'real world' locating today, just a few hours. Although there was nothing of significance or worth found, the excursion was worth every second for the practice and knowledge gained. I feel like I learned a lot about the F75 and should be able to perform much better on the next trip out. Today's episode did start in the default mode and digging just about any steady signal. It didn't take long to move into the All Metal Motion mode with different settings and quickly learned how to recognize poptops and cans without digging (had to dig a few first, of course. A little more practice and I am sure this is going to be a wonderful tool.

Thanks to all that have contributed advice and info......it is all appreciated!!

 

[jmaryt]

yes!..the ktx pro 1 is the one i had in mind!..couldn't remember the correct name of them.
all three would be top choices!..happy to hear the $5.00 ones are working for ya!

(h.h!)
j.t.